Broadband News
Thu, 23rd Jun 2016
Former NBN Boss Reveals Copper Will Cost More Than Fibre
Former NBN boss Mike Quigley has told the Melbourne University Networked Society Institute that the current copper-based FTTN strategy would end up costing more than the original fibre-optic model, prompting lobby group Internet Australia to renew its call for a review of the National Broadband Network.
Source: Gizmodo
Not too late to change NBN’s direction, NBN Co’s first CEO says
The Coalition’s decision to largely ditch a fibre to the premises (FTTP) rollout has led to the National Broadband Network heading in the wrong direction according to NBN’s original CEO Mike Quigley.
Source: Computerworld
Wed, 22nd Jun 2016
Free public Wi-Fi is addictive and bad for you
Public Wi-Fi should be free and ubiquitous, but just as the various cities and businesses rush to provide it cyber criminals rush to compromise it.
Source: iTWire
Labor claims on Internet speeds falling to 60th globally 'correct'
The Australian Labor Party's claims that the country has fallen globally from 30th to 60th in Internet speeds under the Coalition government are correct, according to the ABC's Fact Check unit.
Source: iTWire
Tue, 21st Jun 2016
Majority of Australians want faster NBN, even if it costs more
Regional Australians are desperate for politicians to take their internet woes seriously, as new data shows broad support for government spending on the NBN.
Source: ABC News
Vodafone’s vibrant network confidence: updated Network Satisfaction Guarantee
Vodafone has updated its Network Satisfaction Guarantee with a 30 day money-back period for post-paid customers if unsatisfied, no questions asked, as Voda points to strong OpenSignal results.
Source: iTWire
Telcos’ data retention funding in limbo
The assessment process for telcos’ applications for financial assistance to help defray the costs of data retention remains ongoing, with any decisions on final payouts to be decided by the incoming government after the federal election
Source: Computerworld
Netflix hits 5 million Aussie subscribers, while rivals languish in their wake
Streaming video service Netflix has leapt well ahead of its rivals in the Australian market with subscribers to its service now on the verge of hitting the 5 million mark.
Source: iTWire
NBN Figures Reveal Fibre To The Node Is More Popular than Fibre To The Premises
Earlier this month the federal government revealed take-up rates in areas with Fibre To the Node NBN availability, and now a deeper look at these figures has shown FTTN is being adopted at a far faster rate than Fibre To The Premises in its early days.
Source: Gizmodo
Mon, 20th Jun 2016
Australian fixed broadband speeds to average 44.3Mbps by 2020: Cisco
Fixed broadband will increase 2.4-fold between 2015 and 2020, according to Cisco, while Wi-Fi speeds grow by 2.6-fold and mobile connection speeds double.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Telstra reveals mobile blackspot small cell locations
135 remote locations across Australia will receive 4G services thanks to the small cells installed by Telstra as part of the government's mobile blackspot program.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Australia’s mobile networks get a big tick
Australia is an early tech adopter and in the 3/4G stakes, it is no different. Its mobile networks meet or exceed world standards.
Source: iTWire
Cisco internet traffic forecasts expose further flaws in Govt's NBN rollout
Cisco has delivered its annual Visual Networking Index Internet traffic forecast which predicts traffic growth going out to 2020.
Source: ARN
Sun, 19th Jun 2016
Vodafone 4G availability catches up with Telstra: survey
Australia's mobile networks are in good shape and consistently available across the country despite several recent nationwide outages, analyst firm OpenSignal's latest survey reveals.
Source: iTnews Australia
Telstra to roll out 135 rural 4G base stations
Telstra will deliver 135 4G small-cell base stations in rural areas across all seven Australian states as part of its involvement in the federal government's mobile blackspot program.
Source: iTnews Australia
Fri, 17th Jun 2016
Telstra Has Free Wi-Fi All This Weekend Around Australia
Telstra is giving away free Wi-Fi — again — from 17 to 20 June. But this time it’s not to make up for a service outage.
Source: Gizmodo
Thu, 16th Jun 2016
NBN caretaker compliance enforcement decisions rest with Switkowski: Turnbull
Senior Liberal ministers have backed the decision of NBN chairman Ziggy Switkowski to wilfully break the caretaker conventions.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Internet Australia takes Switkowski to task over NBN ‘leaks’ comments
Internet Australia chief Laurie Patton has weighed into the debate about NBN Co chairman Dr Ziggy Switkowski’s newspaper opinion piece on the AFP raids on Labor functionaries over leaks of NBN information, suggesting the broadband network chief is using his comments to create a public distraction from the “very serious flaws” in the NBN's current design strategy.
Source: iTWire
Telstra re-opens Air network for world wi-fi day
Telstra will open up its Air wi-fi network for free to all mobile device users this weekend in celebration of the first world wi-fi day.
Source: iTnews Australia
Labor's NBN Plan Shows It Listened To Critics Of The Current Broadband Rollout
Labor’s broadband plan includes few surprises and fulfils Opposition Leader Bill Shorten’s commitment to responsibly increase the construction of fibre to the premises (FTTP). At the same time, it would ensure the completion of the National Broadband Network (NBN) is not delayed further.
Source: Gizmodo
Fetch finally fetches fetching Presto TV
Fetch TV has snagged Presto TV to stream on Fetch’s Gen 3 PVRs, and will come to existing Gen 2 PVRs in early July alongside a new Fetch TV mini box, too.
Source: iTWire
Telstra celebrates inaugural World Wi-Fi Day: Free Wi-Fi from 17 to 20 June!
Monday 20 June is World Wi-Fi Day, and along with leading tech organisations worldwide, will join in giving hundreds of millions worldwide free Wi-Fi for four days.
Source: iTWire
Turnbull backs NBN chairman Ziggy Switkowski
NBN’s chairman, Ziggy Switkowski, has done a “remarkable job,” Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said today. Under Switkowski and CEO Bill Morrow, NBN has undergone a “phenomenal turnaround,” the prime minister claimed during a doorstop interview.
Source: Computerworld
Wed, 15th Jun 2016
Labor accuses NBN of cover up, would look at board positions
Opposition leader Bill Shorten has called the breach of caretaker conventions by NBN shameful.
Source: ZDNet Australia
The State Of 4G In Australia: Telstra Is Fastest, But Vodafone Wins Out On Availability
Wireless coverage mapping expert OpenSignal has released its first ever report on the state of mobile networks within Australia, and its findings are pretty interesting, if not completely surprising: Telstra currently offers the fastest possible download speeds on 4G, but that comes at the cost of slightly higher latency where Vodafone and Optus swing ahead. Vodafone also wins out on the availability of its 4G networks, with a slight advantage over both its competitors.
Source: Gizmodo
NBN raids: Switkowski article breached caretaker conventions, says DPMC head
An op-ed penned by NBN’s chairman, Ziggy Switkowski, violated the caretaker conventions that guide the activities of the public service during an election campaign, according to the secretary of the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet (DPMC).
Source: Computerworld
Craig Joyce leaves Telstra
Telstra director of security practice, Craig Joyce, has finished up at the company after a two and a half year stint.
Source: ARN
nbn encourages Australia to list details on national Medical Alarm Register
National broadband company, nbn, has requested all Australians with medical alarms or devices to sign up to its national Medical Alarm Register. The information on the register helps identify households with medical alarms and where support may be needed to help minimise a break in service.
Source: ARN
NBN chairman snubbed caretaker rules, top public servant says
The nation's top public servant rebukes the chairman of the National Broadband Network for writing an opinion piece during the election campaign.
Source: ABC News
5G requires fibre-based infrastructure: Nokia
Building a converged 5G network will depend on both underlying mobile and fixed-line infrastructure, according to Nokia.
Source: ZDNet Australia